How can I add/delete an iCal calendar?

Keeping your calendar up to date helps you avoid double bookings and capture the bookings you receive across channels. Whether you're adding a new iCal calendar or removing an existing one, this step-by-step guide walks you through the process.

How do I add an iCal calendar?

Adding an iCal calendar to your account helps you keep your availability aligned across channels and synchronize your bookings in real-time.

Follow these steps to add an iCal calendar:

1. Log in to your Holidu Host Account
2. Navigate to Configuration in the top-left menu
3. Scroll down to the iCal & Synchronization section
4. Click on Configure to add a new calendar
5. Select your desired channel from the list, or choose Other if your provider doesn't appear
6. Enter your calendar details:
   • Paste the iCal URL from your external calendar provider
   • Name your calendar for easy reference
7. Copy your Holidu Host iCal link and paste it into your external calendar provider's settings (this ensures two-way synchronization)
8. Click Save to finalize the addition of your iCal calendar

By following these steps, your calendar should now be in sync, helping you avoid double bookings and missed opportunities across all your booking channels.

How can I delete an iCal calendar?

If you need to remove an iCal calendar—perhaps because of a change in listing, sync errors, or account updates—the process is straightforward and can be completed in just a few steps.

Follow these steps to delete an iCal calendar:

1. Log in to your Holidu Host Account
2. Navigate to Configuration in the top-left menu
3. Scroll down to the iCal & Synchronization section
4. Find the iCal calendar you wish to remove
5. Click on Edit next to the configured iCal calendar
6. Click Delete and confirm your action

Your calendar will be removed from the system, helping you keep your booking management clean and organized.

What do overlapping bookings in red mean?

If you notice dates appearing in red on your calendar, this indicates overlapping bookings. This occurs when two bookings coincide on the same dates, often due to iCal synchronization issues.

Overlapping bookings can happen when:

• External calendar syncs mirror each other, creating duplicate entries
• A booking was made on one channel but the cancellation didn't synchronize to another
• There's a delay in real-time synchronization between platforms

To resolve overlapping bookings:

1. Review all your connected calendars to identify conflicting entries
2. Check your external calendar providers to ensure bookings are accurate
3. Verify that your iCal integration settings are correct
4. If the issue persists, temporarily pause one calendar sync and manually review entries
5. Re-enable synchronization once conflicts are resolved

Best practices for calendar synchronization

To maintain accurate availability across all channels:

• Sync your calendars regularly to ensure your availability stays current
• Use consistent naming conventions for your calendars across platforms
• Check your red-flagged dates weekly to catch synchronization issues early
• Avoid manually editing dates on synced calendars when possible
• Keep your iCal URLs private and update them only when necessary

Thank you for being a valued host on Holidu. Maintaining synchronized calendars is essential for managing your bookings effectively and providing excellent service to your guests.

If you need additional assistance with calendar management or have questions about synchronization, please use our contact form to reach out to our support team.